Shellstock is coming in just over two weeks, and organizers hoping to raise funds to keep the town's shellfish stocks healthy are dedicating the event in honor of long-time shore engineer, assistant harbormaster and wharfinger Richard "Sweet Pea" Hart, who passed away this March at age 74.

Sweet Pea was a jack-of-all trades who assisted the town in many ways big and small, Chris Leonard, director of marine services, said. Born in New Bedford, he was a lifelong Westport resident and worked for Northeast Welding. For the town, he did fabrication and welding work, as long as using his engineering skills, and was a big supporter of the Westport Shellfish Association.

Shellstock, which raises money for the town's Shellfish Propagation Fund, will be held at the Westport Fairgrounds, 200 Pine Hill Road, on Saturday, August 19. The gate and refreshment stands will open at 3 p.m. and apart from the Gary Sherman Raw Bar, there will also be plenty of other food, beer, wine and soft drinks. Live music and dancing with the Funky White Honkies play from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Westport River area has one of the most vibrant shellfishing programs on the South Coast and Shellstock plays a huge role in making it happen. Every week, members of Westport’s Marine Services Department and a group of volunteers are out on the water, populating the river with quahog stock.

With 100 percent of profit from Shellstock going to purchase stock for the program, Leonard and the event planning committee hope to raise enough funds to purchase 5,000 bushels of quahog stock to spread in town waters.

The cost to attend is $35, and tickets can be purchased at the Westport Lobster Co., The Westporter and Westport Bait & Tackle. You can also buy yours online.